Figure 3.
VTN is a macrophage proinflammatory stimulator. (a) qPCR analysis of the proinflammatory cytokine expression induced by NaCl for 24 h. Data were normalized to gapdh expression levels and summarized as the mean ± SE of three separate experiments. (b–d) VTN promotes the expression of the TNF-α, IL-1β, andIL-6genesin NaCl-treated BMDMs. Cells were cultured in isomolar medium or hyperosmotic medium by adding 20 mM NaCl for 24 h and were then treated with VTN for a further 3 h before qPCR analysis. Data are from three independent experiments. a p < 0.05 versus VTN untreated cells. b p < 0.01 versus corresponding UT/VTN-treated cells.